Method and machine for making



w. E. MOLINS I Re. 20,138

' Oct. 20, 1936.

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING FILTER PLUGS OR WADS FOR CIG-ARETTES 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed July 6, 1954 Oct. 20, 1936. w. E. MOLINSRe. 20,138

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING FILTER PLUGS OR WADS FOR CIGARETTESOriginal Filed July 6, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ii: MW W INVENTOP 1936- w.E. MOLINS METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING FILTER PLUGS- WADS FORCIGARETTES 0rigina'l Filed July 6, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet :5

- mvuvfon 4 I Reissued Oct. 20, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEliIETHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING FIL- TER PLUGS OR WADS FOR CIGARETTESWalter Everett Molins, deceased, late of London, England, by MolinsMachine Company Limited, assignee, Deptford, London, England 44 Claims.

This invention is for improvements in filter plugs or wads, for example,for use in cigarettes at that end of the cigarette which is to be placedin the mouth, and to a method of and means for manufacturing such plugs.

The filter plugs may be manufactured on a machine resembling acontinuous rod cigarette making machine in a manner which will bedescribed in more detail hereinafter.

Some of the materials used for making filter plugs are obtainable insheets or rolls, and have creped or corrugated surfaces, and it isdesirable that the creping should be parallel to the longitudinal axisof the finished plugs, in order that the plugs shall have a certainamount of resiliency to ensure a secure fit in the end of the cigaretteor within a wrapper which is placed around the plug and to provide afree passage for smoke through the plug and to enable the material to bemore easily formed into plugs of any desired cross-section.

One form of material suitable for the present purpose is known ascellulose wadding, and this material is creped during its manufacture sothat it is extensible lengthwise of the sheet or -roll and comparativelynon-extensible transversely. Other materials suitable for themanufacture of plugs are similar in this respect.

According to the present invention, there is provided a method offorming filter plugs or wads (e. g. for use with cigarettes) from.compressible material (e. g. crepe paper or cellulose wadding) which isextensible transversely of its length wherein the longitudinal. edges ofthe material are compressed to form or partly form the plug or wad tothe required cross-section. The plugs or wads may be formed from asuccession of strips which may be wrapped in a tubular wrapper tocomprise a rod composed of a wrapper within which strips of filtermaterial are disposed at intervals, before the plug lengths are severedfrom the rod so formed.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a machinefor producing filter plugs or wads in accordance with the method aboveset forth, comprising means to sever transverse strips from a sheet orroll of material, and to compress the longitudinal edges of the strips,mtans to deliver said strips at intervals onto a conveyor, and means tosever the strips into lengths. The conveyor means may comprise acontinuous web of wrapping material and means may be provided to formand secure the wrapping material into a tubular wrapper about the stripsof material.

Again, the invention comprises filter plugs or wads, for example, foruse with cigarettes, made in accordance with the method herein setforth.

The invention will be more particularly described with reference to theaccompanying 5 drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows diagrammatically one method according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view showing a modified form of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a further modified form of Figure 1;

Figure 4 shows diagrammatically a plan view of a machine for carryingthe method according to the invention into effect;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional end elevation taken on the line A-A, Figure 5;

Figure '7 is an end elevation, partly in section, taken on the line BB,Figure 5;

Figure 8 shows a plan view of the gripping device shown in Figures 4, 6,and '7;

Figure 9 is a sectional elevation to an enlarged scale taken on the lineBB, Figure 5, and shows the strips of filter material in position beforebein Wr pp Figure 10 is a sectional elevation to an enlarged scale takenon the line CC, Figure 5, and shows the strip of filter material inposition after being wrapped; and 0 Figure 11 is a perspective viewshowing how the 3 filter material is shaped during the severingoperation.

Like references refer to like parts throughout the specification anddrawings. 35

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows diagrammatically one method ofcarrying the invention into effect, and according to this method thestrips I of filter material are placed on a conveyor, which in thedrawings is shown as a continuous paper web 2 arranged to move on thebottom of the trough 3. In this form of the invention the strips I arespaced apart as shown at 4, Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 2, the strips I are again deposited on the paper web2, but in this instance the forward end of one strip is placed on therearward end of the preceding strip, so that when the wrapper 2 isfolded about the strips a substantially continuous rod is formed. 50

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 3, the strips of filtermaterial are placed together so that the rearward end of one stripsubstantially abuts against the forward end of the next succeedingstrip.

For convenience in referring broadly to the method of disposing thestrips I of filter material on the conveyor and feeding the same withthe conveyor, these strips are described as disposed in end to endrelation or as being fed endwise in succession, it being understood thatthese terms are intended as sufiiciently comprehensive to describe anyone or all of the arrangements shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3. In otherwords, the strips may be said to lie in end to end relation whether theyoverlap slightly, directly abut, or are arranged in spaced relation.

Referring to Figures 4 to 7, the material from which the strips I arecut is fed from a reel 5, and is passed over a table 6 and beneathrollers I which are arranged to retain the material in contact with thetable 6, and feed in towards the knives 9 and III. A retaining plate 8,provided with fingers which extend to a point in close proximity to thepoint at which the knife edges cooperate to sever the web; is arrangedto hold the web onto the table while it is being cut by the knives 9 andIII and to prevent the web from stretching lengthwise during the cuttingoperation so that the severed strips are all of substantially the samewidth. Instead of the rotary knife 9 a reciprocating knife may be usedor a pair of reciprocating or rotary knives may be used.

The material from which the strips are cut is built up of a number ofplies, and it is often found when using crepe paper that it is necessaryin order to roll and handle the material in a satisfactory manner, toprovide a. backing strip which usually comprises a strip of paper. Asthis paper backing strip is not included in plugs, it is necessary thatit shall be removed before the strips are fed onto the conveyor orwrapping material.

It is preferable that the backing strip should be removed out ofengagement with the filter material at the very latest possible moment,in order that it may exert its controlling influence as long aspossible, and by referring to Figure 6, it will be seen that the backingstrip I I is parted from the filter material by passing it round theedge of the table 6 just before the knives operate to sever a strip fromthe web. The backing strip then passes over the rollers I2 and isrewound into a reel I3 by any suitable mechanism, of known construction.

The web of filter material is extensible in a lengthwise direction andon referring to Figure 11 it will be seen that the knives 9, I0 severstrips from the web transversely of its length. Owing to the fact thatthe web is extensible in a lengthwise direction, the action of theknives causes the longitudinal edges of the severed portion to be drawntogether as shown clearly in Figure 11. The pressure exerted by theknives on opposite sides of the Web causes the top and bottom edges ofthe strip to adhere to each other so that each severed strip is formedas seen from Figure 11.

When the web of material is of less thickness than the cross-sectionaldimensions of the plugs to be formed, a strip is cut in the mannerillustrated in Figure 11, the cross-section of the severed strip beingof substantially oval or elliptical formation. The oval or ellipticallyformed strips may thereafter be compressed, for example, by pressureexerted along the major axis of the ellipse, so that the materialassumes a substantially circular cross-section as shown in Figure 10.If, however, it is desired to have a plug of substantially oval orelliptical crosssection it is not necessary to subject the strips to anyappreciable deformation or compression after the severing operation,although it is to be understood that if it is desired to furthercompress the strips into the oval or elliptical shape, this operationmay be performed and is Within the scope of the invention.

It will be seen that if the web or material is of a thicknessapproximating to the cross-sectional dimensions of the plug to beformed, by cutting a suitable length from the web the knives may bearranged to form the material into substantially circular cross-section.In this case, also, the severed strips of material may or may not besubjected to further compression as desired.

It is not essential that the knives should have specially formed edgesin order to form the strips as just described, but it is found that whenusing thick or relatively blunt knives, better results are obtained.

Again, it is found that knives having shaped (e. g. rounded) edges aresuitable for the purposes of carrying the invention into effect, but ofcourse, the pressure would have to be sufficient to separate the stripfrom the web.

The strips I of filter material after being severed from the web by theknives 9 and I0, pass over a plate I4, and are delivered into the flutesI5 of a rotatable wheel I6. The wheel I6 is disposed above the trough 3of the machine so that when a'strip I has been conveyed by the wheelthrough approximately it is in alignment with the trough and above thesame. A guide I! is provided to prevent the strips I from being ejectedfrom the flutes of the wheel I6 as it is being rotated to the positionat which the strips are delivered into the trough of the machine.

In the machine illustrated, a web 2 of cigarette paper 4 is arranged tomove at the bottom of the trough 3 in a manner similar to that in whichthe paper web is arranged in a cigarette making machine of thecontinuous rod type, and the strips I which are fed into position abovethe trough 3 by the wheel I6 are gripped by a gripper I8 which removesthe strips from the wheel and deposits them upon the moving paper web 2.The gripper I8 is arranged so that it imparts to the strips I a movementin the direction in which the paper web 2 is travelling and the gripperis preferably arranged so that at the instant the strip I is deliveredonto the web 2, it has a velocity substantially equal to that of thepaper web 2 to which it is being delivered.

The gripper I8 is driven from the main drive of the machine and isarranged to operate in synchronism with the cutting mechanism 26. Themovement in the direction of the web 2 is imparted to the gripper bymeans of an eccentric disc I9. A cam 20 is arranged to operate a rod 2|which in turn pivots a bar 3I and operates the movable jaw 30 of thegripper I8 at the instant at which the strip I is to be gripped in orderto remove it from the wheel I6, and again, at the moment at which it isto release the strip in order to deposit it upon the paper web 2.

When the strips I are deposited upon the paper web 2' the loaded web maybe carried beneath a compression wheel 22, which compresses the stripsof filter material, and then through forming mechanism 23 which formsthe filter material and wrapper into the desired cross-section and foldsthe wrapper into tubular form about the filter material. An adhesiveapplying device 24 is provided to apply adhesive to the wrappingmaterial, whereby the wrapper may be secured about the strips. The rodso formed then passes beneath a heating element 25 which is arranged todry the adhesive securing the edges of the wrapper and the rod thenpasses to cutting mechanism 26, which is arranged to sever the wrappedstrips into lengths.

The length severed from the rod formed by the wrapped strips or from thestrips when they are not wrapped, may be of a length suflicient toprovide a number of individual plugs or wads for use with cigarettes,and in such case the lengths would be again severed at some other time,such for example, as just prior to their assembly with a cigarette.Again, if desired, the cutting mechanism 26 may be arranged to severfrom the rod, lengths of plug which are of the correct lengths for usewith cigarettes.

It will be seen that in each form of the invention there is a point atwhich the rearmost end of one strip is adjacent to the foremost end ofthe next successive strip, and as this is the case, when the rod issevered a length will be out which contains two short ends of filtermaterial. This point will be better appreciated by referring to Figures1, 2, and 3 in which the vertical chain lines represent the points atwhich the rod is severed. It is desirable that the length having theseshort ends should be removed from the normal product of the machine inorder that they do not become included at a later stage in a cigarette.

In order to remove the portions of the rod just referred to, means maybe provided operating in connection with the deflector element fordeflecting the severed lengths out of the rod line, such means beingarranged and timed so that the lengths including the short ends offilter material are removed and deposited at a point different from thepoint or points to which the normal product of the machine is or aredelivered. A suitable device for performing this operation is describedin French Patent No. 748,158 and is illustrated diagrammatically at 21,see Figures 4 and 5.

The device shown at 21 comprises three deflector drums similar to thoseshown in said patent and one of the drums is timed to remove thoselengths containing the short ends, in a manner similar to that in whichthe drum in the patent is arranged periodically to deflect a cigaretteand deliver it to a weighing mechanism. The normal lengths are deliveredonto a suitable conveyor such as 28, and if desired, the conveyor may bedivided as shown in Figure 4 by the provision of a bar 32, and thelengths containing the short ends may be delivered to the portion 29 ofthe conveyor 28, from which they may be collected by the machineoperator or, if desired, the defective lengths may be delivered into anysuitable receptacle.

It will be appreciated that the apparatus described and illustrated inFigures 4 to 7 merely shows one way of carrying the method according tothe invention into effect, and the various details of the mechanism maybe altered without in any way departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Further, if desired, means may be provided to automatically control thelength of material being cut from the web or sheet in order to controlthe density of the finished plug or wads. Such means do not form part ofthe present invention and are not, therefore, fully described herein,but it would be sufiicient for this purpose to alter the speed offeeding of the web to the knives 9 and I0.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A method of forming filter wads from strips of compressible materialwhich are extensible transversely of their length, by compressing thelongitudinal marginal edges of the material to form the wads to therequired cross-section and thereafter severing lengths from said strips.

2. A method of forming filter wads from strips of compressible materialwhich are extensible transversely of their length, by compressing thelongitudinal edges of the material to partly form the wads to therequired cross-section, completing the formation of the wads by lateralcompression of the strips and thereafter severing lengths from saidstrips.

3. A method of forming filter wads, by severing strips of compressiblematerial from a stock and compressing the longitudinal marginal edges ofthe severed strips, said strips being extensible transverse of theirlength and thereafter severing lengths from the strips.

4. A method of forming filter wads, by severing strips of compressiblematerial from a stock and compressing the longitudinal edges of thesevered strips whereby the strips are given a curvilinear cross-section,said strips being extensible transversely of their length, arranging thestrips lengthwise in succession, wrapping the strips in a tubularwrapper and severing lengths from the wrapped strips.

5. A method of forming filter wads, by severing strips of compressiblematerial from a stock and compressing the longitudinal edges of thesevered strips whereby the strips are given a curvilinear cross-section,said strips being extensible transversely of their length, arranging thestrips lengthwise in succession, wrapping the strips in a tubularwrapper and severing lengths from the wrapped strips, and selecting andremoving those severed portions containing portions of material from atleast two difierent strips.

6. A machine for producing filter wads comprising in combination meansto feed a succession of strips of compressible material in a lengthwisedirection, means to compress the longitudinal marginal edges of thestrips to form them to the desired cross-section, and means to severlengths from said strips.

7. A machine for producing filter wads comprising in combination, meansto feed a succession of strips of compressible material in a lengthwisedirection, means to compress the longitudinal edges of the strips toform them to the desired cross-section, means to form and secure atubular wrapper around the strips and means to sever lengths from thewrapped strips.

8. A machine for producing filter wads comprising in combination, meansto feed a succession of strips of compressible material in a lengthwisedirection, means to compress the longitudinal edges of the strips toform them to the desired cross-section, means to form and secure atubular wrapper around the strips, means to sever lengths from thewrapped strips, and means to select and remove those severed lengthscontaining portions of material from at least two different strips.

9. A machine for producing filter wads comprising in combination, meansto sever transverse strips of material from a stock and compress thelongitudinal edges of the strips, means to deliver the strips inlengthwise succession on a conveyor and means to sever lengths from saidstrips.

10. A machine for producing filter wads comprising in combination, meansto sever transverse strips of material from a stock and compress thelongitudinal edges of the strips, means to deliver the strips inlengthwise succession on a conveyor, means to form and secure a tubularwrapper about the strips, and means to sever lengths from said strips.

11. A machine for producing filter wads comprising in combination, meansto sever transverse strips of material from a stock and compress thelongitudinal edges of the strips, means to deliver the strips inlengthwise succession on a conveyor, means to form and secure a tubularwrapper about the strips, means to sever lengths from said strips, andmeans to select and remove those severed lengths containing portions ofmaterial from at least two different strips.

12. A machine for producing filter wads comprising in combination, meansto sever transverse strips of material from a stock and compress thelongitudinal edges of the strips, means to deliver the strips inlengthwise succession on a continuously moving wrapper, means to impartto the strips a movement in the direction of movement of said wrapper,means to form and secure the wrapper about the strips and means to severlengths from the wrapped strips.

13. A machine for producing filter wads comprising in combination, meansto sever transverse strips of material from a stock and compress thelongitudinal edges of the strips, means to deliver the strips inlengthwise succession on a continuously moving wrapper, means to impartto the strips a movement in the direction of movement of said wrapper,means to form and secure the wrapper about the strips, means to severlengths from the wrapped strips, and means to select and remove thosesevered lengths containing portions of material from at least twodifferent strips.

14. A machine for producing filter wads comprising in combination, apair of cooperating severing elements to sever transverse strips ofmaterial from a stock and compress the longitudinal edges of the strips,a movable element to deliver the severed strips to a continuously movingwrapper, an element movable at substantially the same speed and in thedirection of movement of said wrapper to impart a movement to saidstrips as they are delivered to the wrapper, folding elements operativeto fold the wrapper about said strips, adhesive applying elements tosecure said wrapper and a severing device to sever lengths from thewrapped strips.

15. A machine for producing filter wads comprising in combination, apair of cooperating severing elements to sever transverse strips ofmaterial from a stock and compress the longitudinal edges of the strips,a movable element to deliver the severed strips to a continuously movingwrapper, an element movable at substantially the same speed and in thedirection of movement of said wrapper to impart a movement to saidstrips as they are delivered to the wrapper, folding elements operativeto fold. the wrapper about said strips, adhesive applying elements tosecure said wrapper, a severing device to sever lengths from the wrappedstrips, and a selector element to select and remove those severedlengths containing portions of material from at least two differentstrips.

16. A machine for producing filter wads comprising in combination, meansto sever transverse strips of material from a stock and compress thelongitudinal edges of the strips, means to deliver the strips inlengthwise succession on a conveyor, means to form and secure a tubularwrapper about the strips, means to compress the strips to the requiredcross-section while moving endwise on the conveyor, and means to severlengths from said strips.

17. A machine for producing filter wads comprising in combination, meansto sever transverse strips of material from a stock and compress thelongitudinal edges of the strips, means to deliver the strips inlengthwise succession on a conveyor, means to form and secure a tubularwrapper about the strips, means to compress the strips to the requiredcross-section while moving endwise on the conveyor, means to severlengths from said strips, and means to select and remove those severedlengths containing portions of material from at least two differentstrips.

18. A machine for producing filter wads comprising in combination, apair of cooperating severing elements to sever transverse strips ofmaterial from a stock and compress the longitudinal edges of the strips,a movable element to deliver the severed strips to a continuously movingwrapper, an element movable at substantially the same speed and in thedirection of movement of said wrapper to impart a movement to saidstrips as they are delivered to the wrapper, folding elements operativeto fold the wrapper about said strips, means to compress the strips to asubstantially circular cross-section while moving endwise on theconveyor, adhesive applying elements to secure said wrapper and asevering device to sever lengths from the wrapped strips.

19. A machine for producing filter wa/ds comprising in combination, apair of cooperating severing elements to sever transverse strips ofmaterial from a stock and compress the longitudinal edges of the strips,a movable element to deliver the severed strips to a continuously movingwrapper, an element movable at substantially the same speed and in thedirection of movement of said wrapper to impart a movement to saidstrips as they are delivered to the wrapper, folding elements operativeto fold the wrapper about said strips, means to compress the strips to asubstantially circular cross-section while moving endwise on theconveyor, adhesive applying elements to secure said wrapper, a severingdevice to sever lengths from the wrapped strips, and a selector elementto select and remove those severed lengths containing portions ofmaterial from at least two different strips.

20. In a method of forming cigarette filter wads from a continuous webof compressible material which is extensible in the direction of thelength of the web, the successive steps which comprise severing the webtransversely to form elongated strips which are extensible in thedirection of the width thereof, feeding said strips in the direction ofthe length thereof and simultaneously applying lateral pressure theretoto form rods of the desired cross-section, and thereafter severing therods into lengths.

21. In a method of forming cigarette filter wads from a continuous webof compressible material which is extensible in the direction of thelength of the web, the successive steps which comprise severing the webtransversely to form elongated strips which are extensible in thedirection of the width thereof, feeding said strips in the direction ofthe length thereof and simultaneously applying lateral pressure theretoto form rods of the desired cross-section, securing a wrapper about therods, and thereafter severing the rods into lengths.

22. In a method of forming cigarette filter wads from a continuous webof compressible material which is extensible in the direction of thelength of the web, the successive steps which comprise severing the webtransversely to form elongated strips which are extensible in thedirection of the width thereof, feeding said strips in the direction ofthe length thereof and simultaneously applying lateral pressure theretoto form rods of the desired cross-section, encasing said rods in acontinuous wrapper, and thereafter severing the rods into lengths.

23. In a method of forming cigarette filter wads from a continuous webof compressible material which is extensible in the direction of thelength of the web, the successive steps which comprise severing the webtransversely to form elongated strips which are extensible in thedirection of the width thereof, feeding said strips in the direction ofthe length thereof and simultaneously applying lateral pressure theretoto form rods of the desired cross-section, encasing said rods in end toend relation in a continuous wrapper, and thereafter severing the rodsinto lengths.

24. In a method of forming cigarette filter wads from a continuous webof compressible material which is extensible in the direction of thelength of the web, the successive steps which comprise severing the webtransversely to form elongated strips which are extensible in thedirection of the width thereof, feeding said strips in the direction ofthe length thereof and simultaneously applying lateral pressure theretoto form rods of the desired cross-section, encasing said rods in axiallyspaced end to end relation in a continuous wrapper, and thereaftersevering the rods into lengths.

25. In a method of forming cigarette filter wads from a continuous webof compressible material which is extensible in the direction of thelength of the web, the successive steps which comprise severing the webtransversely to form elongated strips which are extensible in thedirection of the width thereof, feeding said strips in the direction ofthe length thereof and simultaneously deforming said strips to providerods of the cross-section desired in the finished cigarette.

26. In a method of forming cigarette filter wads from a continuous webof compressible material which is extensible in the direction of thelength of the web, said web comprising a plurality of layers of crepepaper, the successive steps which comprise severing the web transverselyto form elongated strips which are extensible in the direction of thewidth thereof, feeding said strips in the direction of the lengththereof and simultaneously applying lateral pressure thereto to formrods of the desired cross-section, and thereafter severing the rods intolengths.

27. In a, method of forming cigarette filter wads from separateelongated strips of compressible material, the successive stepscomprising feeding the strips in an endwise direction and simultaneouslycompressing the same transversely of the direction of feed to form thestrips into rods, feeding a wrapper with and about said rods to encasethe same, and severing the encased rods into lengths.

28. In a method of forming cigarette filter wads from separate elongatedstrips of compressible material which are extensible transversely of thelength thereof, the successive steps comprising feeding the strips in anendwise direction in end to end relation and simultaneously compressingthe same transversely of the direction of feed to form the strips intorods, feeding a continuous.

wrapper with and about said rods to encase the same, and severing theencased rods into lengths.

29. In a method of forming cigarette filter wads from separate elongatedstrips of multi-ply crepe pap-er having the corrugations extending inthe direction of the length of the strips, the successive stepscomprising feeding the strips in an endwise direction and simultaneouslycompressing the transversely of the direction of feed to form the stripsinto rods, feeding a wrapper with and about said rods to encase thesame, and severing the encased rods into lengths.

38. In a method of forming cigarette filter wads from separate elongatedelements of fibrous material, the steps which comprise feeding acontinuous wrapper web in the direction of the length thereof, feedingsaid elements in end to end relation on and with said web, deformingsaid elements to the desired cross-section, concurrently wrapping saidweb about said elements to form a continuous rod, and thereaftersevering said rod into lengths.

31. In a method of forming cigarette filter wads from separate elongatedelements of fibrous material, the steps which comprise feeding acontinuous wrapper web in the direction of the length thereof, feedingsaid elements in end to end relation on and with said web, deformingsaid elements to the desired cross-section, concurrently wrapping saidweb about said elements, and applying adhesive to the web duringcontinued feeding thereof to seal said web about said elements, therebyforming a filter rod.

32. In apparatus for forming cigarette filter wads, the combination withmeans for severing a web of fibrous material to form elongated stripshaving the long dimension thereof extending in a direction transverse ofthe web, of conveyor means receiving said severed strips and feeding thesame in succession in the direction of the;

length of the strips, and means engaging the strips during the feedingthereof to deform and compress the same.

33. In apparatus for forming cigarette filter wads, the combination withmeans for severing a web of fibrous material to form elongated stripshaving the long dimension thereof extending in a direction transverse ofthe web, means for applying lateral pressure to said strips to deformand compress the same into rods, and means for severing said rods intolengths.

34. In apparatus for forming cigarette filter wads, the combination withmeans for severing a continuous web of multi-ply crepe paper havingtransverse corrugations so as to form elongated strips having lengthwisecorrugations, of means for feeding said strips lengthwise in end to endrelation and simultaneously compressing the same laterally of thedirection of feed, and means for applying a single length of wrapper toa plurality of strips to form a filter rod.

35. In apparatus for forming cigarette filter wads, the combination withmeans for severing a continuous web of multi-ply crepe paper havingtransverse corrugations so as to form elongated strips having lengthwisecorrugations, of means for feeding said strips lengthwise in end to endrelation and simultaneously compressing the same laterally of thedirection of feed, means for applying a single length of wrapper to aplurality of strips to form a filter rod, means for severing said rodinto lengths, and means for isolating severed rod lengths containing auniform supply of filter strip material from the remaining rod lengths.

36. In apparatus for forming cigarette filter wads, the combination withmeans for feeding a wrapper web in the direction of the length thereof,of means for delivering a series of separate elongated elements offilter material on said web in end to end relation, means engaging saidelements during the movement thereof together with the web to deform theelements, means for encasing said elements in said web to form a rod,and means for severing said rod into lengths.

37. In apparatus for forming cigarette filter wads, the combination withmeans for feeding a wrapper web in the direction of the length thereof,of means for delivering a series of separate elongated elements offilter material on said web in end to end relation, means for encasingsaid elements in said web to form a rod, means for severing said rodinto lengths, and means for isolating severed rod lengths uniformlyloaded with filter material from the remaining lengths.

38. In a method of forming cigarette filter wads from separate elongatedelements of fibrous material, the steps which comprise feeding acontinuous wrapper web in the direction of the length thereof, movingsaid elements at substantially the linear speed of the web and in thedirection in which the latter is fed and depositing the elements on theweb in approximate axial alignment, deforming said elements to thedesired cross-section, wrapping said web about said elements to form acontinuous rod, and thereafter severing said rod into lengths.

39. In a method of forming cigarette filter wads from separate elongatedstrips of compressible material, the successive steps comprising feedingthe strips in an endwise direction and simultaneously deforming the saidstrips to form the strips into rods of the desired cross-section,feeding a wrapper with and about said rods to encase the same, andsevering the encased rods into lengths.

40. In a method of forming cigarette filter wads from separate elongatedstrips of compressible material which are extensible transversely of thelength thereof, the successive steps comprising feeding the strips in anendwise direction in end to end relation and simultaneously deformingthe said strips to form the strips into rods of the desiredcross-section, feeding a continuous wrapper with and about said rods toencase the same, and severing the encased rods into lengths.

41. In a method of forming cigarette filter wads from separate elongatedstrips of multi-ply crepe paper having the corrugations extending in thedirection of the length of the strips, the successive steps comprisingfeeding the strips in an endwise direction and simultaneously deformingsaid strips to form the strips into rods of the desired cross-section,feeding a wrapper with and about said rods to encase the same, andsevering the encased rods into lengths.

42. In a method of forming filter wads from separate elongated elementsof fibrous material, the steps which comprise feeding a continuouswrapper web in the direction of the length thereof, feeding saidelements endwise in succession and in substantial alignment with oneanother on and with said web, deforming said elements to the desiredcross-section, concurrently wrapping said web about said elements toform a continuous rod, and thereafter severing said rod into lengths.

43. In apparatus for forming cigarette filter wads, the combination withmeans for severing a continuous web of multi-ply crepe paper havingtransverse corrugations so as to form elongated str'ips havinglengthwise corrugations, of means for feeding said strips lengthwise insuccession and simultaneously deforming said strips to the desiredcross-sectional shape and size, and means for applying a single lengthof wrapper to a plurality of strips to .form a filter rod.

44. In apparatus for forming cigarette filter wads, the combination withmeans for severing a continuous web of multi-ply crepe paper havingtransverse corrugations so as to form elongated strips having lengthwisecorrugations, of means for feeding said strips endwise in succession andsimultaneously deforming said strips to the desired cross-sectionalshape and size, means for applying a single length of wrapper to aplurality of strips to form a filter rod, means for severing said rodinto lengths, and means for isolating severed rod lengths containing auniform supply of filter strip material from the remaining rod lengths.

MOLINS MACHINE COMPANY LIMITED, Assignee of Walter Everett M olins,Deceased,

By J. H. FELL,

Secretary.

